Middle East - Iran sees Israel behind hacker attack on gas stations
Iran's government has blamed its arch-enemy Israel for a suspected hacker attack on petrol stations. "The Zionist enemy and America wanted to challenge and burden our people in this way because of their failures in other areas," said Oil Minister Javad Ojji, according to the state news agency Irna. Since early this morning, petrol stations across Iran have been affected by a software problem. Among other things, the malfunction affects the smart payment system at petrol pumps. Around two-thirds of petrol stations in the country with a population of almost 90 million are restricted as a result.
President Ebrahim Raisi instructed Odschi to solve the problem immediately and investigate the cause. The public must be informed appropriately and in good time, according to a statement from the presidential office.
Hacker group claims responsibility for the act
The Iranian agency Ilna, which specializes in business news, also reported an Israeli hacker attack as a possible cause of the disruption. Experts were working on a quick solution to the problems, according to a statement from the state refinery company (NIORDC). The statement spoke of a conspiracy by Iran's enemies.
According to the Israeli newspaper "The Times of Israel", a hacker group called "Gondscheschk-e Darande" (Robbery Sparrow) claimed responsibility for the incident. The group is said to have already carried out cyber attacks in the past, including on Iran's steel industry.
Concerns about price increases
The Tasnim news agency, which is close to the influential Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), denied concerns about a possible price increase or shortage of fuel. The problem at the pumps is technical, it said in a post on Telegram.
Petrol is heavily subsidized by the state in Iran. Four years ago, high petrol prices triggered a wave of protests from the working class, which the state had violently suppressed.
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- Despite the software problem caused by the suspected hacker attack, experts from the Iranian state refinery company (NIORDC) are working tirelessly to find a solution.
- The Israeli newspaper "The Times of Israel" reported that a hacker group called "Gondscheschk-e Darande" (Robbery Sparrow) claimed responsibility for the disruption at filling stations across Iran.
- The hacker attack on petrol stations in Iran has sparked concerns among the public about potential price increases or a fuel shortage, given that petrol is heavily subsidized by the state.
- Iran's Oil Minister Javad Ojji accused Israel and America of orchestrating the hacker attack due to their failures in other areas, a claim that was echoed by the state news agency Irna.
- In the midst of the ongoing conflict between Iran and its arch-enemy Israel, the Middle East remains a hotbed of tension, with energy resources often at the heart of the geopolitical struggle.
Source: www.stern.de
